Experience Flame Working | 2024

Experience Flame Working is perfect class for your first experience working with glass in front of a torch. Participants are given the opportunity to work with our instructors to learn about the equipment, tools and materials used to transform raw glass into a memorable experience. When you are working in the flame working studio, you are working with colored and clear glass rods or tubes in front of an open, gas-fueled torch. You melt and shape the glass using fire, tools and gravity.

In this 3-hour flame working workshop, each participant will demonstrate the basic techniques of flame working to make several items. You will work with our instructors to create a seasonal item out of borosilicate glass and some colorful beads to string with Moretti-Effetre (soft) glass. Items created will be ready for pick up in the SiNaCa Studios gallery five business days after made.

FAQ and Release Form

Please refer to the FAQ section of our website to see all measures that we are taking to keep our staff and participants safe. If you are a first-time participant, you can find a link to our Risk and Release form on the FAQ page. You are welcome to bring a completed form with you. We will also have blank forms available during class check-in. ALL participants are required to have a completed form on file.

Seasonal Borosilicate Items

November & December

Snowflake Pendant

January & February

Snowman

March & April

Pressed Leaf Pendant

May & June

Butterfly

July & August

Mushroom Pendant

September & October

Mini Pumpkin

Glass Blowing: When you are working in the hot shop, you are working with the glass in its molten state (2100F). The process begins by taking a pipe and gathering molten glass from the furnace and then forming and shaping it with tools and by blowing air into it. You will be given the opportunity to apply color, reheat and shape your creation.

Flame Working: When you are working in the flame working studio, you are working with colored and clear glass rods or tubes in front of an open, gas-fueled torch. You will be given the opportunity to melt the glass as well as use tools and gravity to shape your item. SiNaCa Studios teaches with two different types of glass in our flame working studio. One is a soft soda-lime based glass that is used primarily for our bead making classes. The other is a hard glass called borosilicate, sometimes referred to as pyrex. It requires a much hotter flame to work, but can be used to create more complex sculptural and blown work.

Kiln Forming | Fusing & Slumping Glass: When you are working in the kiln forming studio, you are working with the glass in its solid state. You will be given the opportunity to cut and layer sheet glass with glass frit and stringers to create your design. We will then put the assembled work into an electric kiln where it will be fired over a 12-hour cycle to fuse the layers together. SiNaCa Studios uses and teaches with Bullseye Glass (90coe) exclusively in our kiln forming studio.